Brussels, 08/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 7 November the group of Liberals and Democrats at the European Parliament called on the European Commission to launch a legislative proposal supporting internet freedom. In a press release Jules Maaten (Netherlands) declared, “Europe should follow the US example where legislators are working on the Global Online Freedom Act. We urge the European Commission to follow this example and present a European version of this law”. The MEP called on the Commission to be more proactive and said that the freedom of expression remained fundamental to the internet. Henrik Lax from Finland added, “I am making a heartfelt appeal for a European code of conduct to be established for internet providers in the EU”. MEPs made these declarations following a hearing at the Parliament on the theme, “Censure & cyber dissidence: online freedom in authoritarian countries”. According to Maaten, countries such as China and Cuba, Burma and Belarus are multiplying restrictions on the use of the internet in an attempt to prevent the freedom of expression. He exclaimed that, “it is intolerable that western companies are helping repressive governments trample on human rights”. He cited the case of Yahoo and Google which provided information about their clients to the Chinese authorities. European firms are not exempt from reproach either, explained the MEP, who cited Telecom Italia in Cuba and Wanadoo, a subsidiary of France Telecom in Tunisia. (B.C.)